The Birthing of Awaken Us…

The birthing of Awaken Us began when Terry & Barbi Franklin, founders of Heart for the World (see HeartfortheWorld.com), heard about the revival taking place among Christians in Egypt that started from a 40-day fast at the end of 2010. God’s voice was calling them to go see for themselves what God was doing there. Experiencing the revival in Egypt first-hand and speaking with leaders fed their deep burden to see this same kind of heart-felt revival and awakening in America. Having traveled all across the U.S. and in 38 countries worldwide for over 30 years as musical revivalists, “Inspiring Love in the Home & Revival in the Church,” their trip to Egypt fueled their flames of passion to see this kind of spiritual transformation in North America. Since 2011, God has been inspiring waves of revival that are penetrating throughout America out of Worship City, a local ministry that Terry and Barbi founded in 2011 as a daughter 501(c)3 corporation of Heart for the World. Worship City is a community of worship and prayer leaders in Nashville, Tennessee who also now have a great passion to see revival birthed out of fasting, prayer, and worship (see WorshipCity.US).

The video link below is an interview with Dr. Sameh Maurice of Kasr El Dobara Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Cairo, Egypt, the church that began the 40-day fast at the end of 2010. Their church experienced Christian revival that has been spreading across Egypt and the Middle East, even in the face of heartbreaking persecution. Now, literally millions of muslims are coming to Christ across the Middle East through the unified prayers of 100’s of thousands of Christians birthed from this movement of intensified fasting, prayer, and worship.

The video below inspired nearly 500 churches and 30,000 individuals throughout America to join Terry & Barbi Franklin for “Awaken Us: 40 Days to Fast and Pray” at the end of 2011. Many believers are now seeing that we, too, need a kind of “revolution”… a spiritual revolution of repentance. Without this, we will surely lose America as we have known it.

Click to view video of interview with Dr. Sameh Maurice now available on Worship City’s BRAND NEW channel, Worship City TV:

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

A Few words from Terry & Barbi…
“We think you’ll agree, America desperately needs revival…beginning in our churches. We have been greatly inspired by the Egyptian Christians since first hearing that they went into a unified fast in 2010. This resulted in many miracles as revealed, in part, by this video. Prior to recording this interview (in August of 2011) we had this burning thought… ‘Why can’t our American churches do what these committed believers are doing in Egypt?’ And even now, they are still meeting in mass to pray for their nation and all the Middle East!”

“Following the Egyptian’s 40-day fast in 2010, a spirit of repentance blew across the desert regions and 100’s of thousands of Muslims began to turn to Jesus Christ throughout Egypt and the Middle East. A fervent prayer movement began, and has continued to such levels, that now 10 million people are visiting Kasr El Dobara Church’s website monthly for information on salvation and to go through discipleship classes and participate in live streaming prayer meetings online. Millions of muslims are now responding and turning to Jesus Christ as Christians persevere in prayer for the souls of their friends and loved ones ! And now, with the rise of Isis, they are saying that for every Christian beheaded, they are seeing 100,000 muslims turn to Christ!

Could it be that this end-time harvest — as well as the persecution of believers — is part of the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 and 39? We believe so, that “the Day of the Lord” is fast approaching and Jesus is coming soon. Thus: We MUST Awaken in this hour of the harvest… for IT IS HERE!

But while revival is happening on the other side of the world, it seems that our own country is spiritually going the other way. Christians are wandering away from God’s ways, and churches are stuck in their religious activities; business as usually. We need to learn how to cry out to God to ‘awaken us’ again from our slumber, humble ourselves, and turn back to God, crying out to Him to heal our land! Most Americans agree that we are going the wrong direction, so will you join us in this new movement birthed through Heart for the World and Worship City? For more information on getting involved now, see HeartfortheWorld.com and WorshipCity.US.

“We were encouraged to see many join us for fasting and prayer from November 21st to December 31st in 2011, praying for revival in our churches and spiritual awakening in our land. American Family Association and many other Christian organizations listed on this website partnered with us to get the word out. But the work has just begun. We are keeping this website up and running to inform you of reports of revival in churches, as well as fasting and prayer movements being birthed across our nation. People are slowly waking up, and more and more prayer movements are taking root!

“Our purpose at Awaken Us is to inspire, unify, and inform. At this website, you’ll find many tools in the days to come to help you fast and pray, as well as pertinent videos, music, informative website links, a Calendar of Events that you can join, and “revival sightings.” We are expecting a great “last days” harvest of souls, even as things are getting darker in our nation! We MUST watch and pray with lamps that are filled with oil and with extra jars of oil along with us at all times so we will be ready to reap this harvest! (see Matthew 25)

“Let’s unite together, humble ourselves, and follow the example of these passionate Egyptian Christians. Let’s beseech the Lord together to “rend the heavens” again (Isaiah 64), pleading with our God to give us another historic ‘Great Awakening’ here in America.”

To have Terry & Barbi in your church for a transforming weekend of Prayer & Worship, or to join the Awaken Us Prayer Team, click on the “Contact Us” button below and tell us what you’d like us to do for you. We can schedule your church for a special weekend of events and/or send you e-Updates with reports of what God is doing across America and worldwide through fasting and prayer as well as opportunities to unify with other intercessors and events! Check out ministries we offer by CLICKING HERE!Heart for the World is a faith-based 501 (c)3 non-profit corporation that needs your support to continue! For donations to support this prayer ministry, please send checks to: Heart for the World, Inc., PO Box 17247, Nashville, TN 37217-0247, call 615-773-8480, or donate online:

5 Responses to The Birthing of Awaken Us…

I begin the day today of ’40 Day Fast and Prayer. Remembering the long Catholicism trail – 15 years – to conversion, Christianity, surrender to ministry on March 5, 1952, more than 56 years, now, answering the call to ‘prayer, revival, spiritual awakening and evangelism’ I am committed to see God move between now and 2012. My old preacher at FBC, Ocean Springs, MS, 1947-1953 moved into a new pastorate with a ‘strange’ appeal: set aside a ‘little room’ as a prayer room in this place and wait on God to answer; his verse was Jer.33.3 where God said, “Call unto me….” I saw it work then and look for it now. Moody Monthly magazine (1950/51) did a feature article called “The Little Room of Power” – research will attest that God did come to town and do a work at old FBC, Ocean Springs, MS. My ministry, Prayer Time Ministries for all of my ministry to date, has carried me across American, both oceans – east and west – even the Holy Land, twice, and God is ready for a great spiritual awakening. I’m a participant. I appreciate your web site, Facebook and will monitor it regularly. Praying Jebez’s prayer, 1Chron.4.9-10, and looking forward to the day when Heaven comes down to earth! Oh God, do it again!

The reading for Nov. 22 from “Daily Light on the Daily Path” was focused on prayer guided by the Holy Spirit. A devotional guide titled “At Break of Day” was written many years ago by a man named Fred Mitchell to accompany the “Daily Light” morning readings. Part of his comment on the reading for 11/22 was:
“Such prayer will be costly for it will mean the setting aside of personal interests and feelings, it will mean saying,–Not my will, in things both great and small, but in so doing we shall find the Holy Spirit praying through us by taking our minds and causing them to think His thoughts, and by taking our hearts and enabling them to express His desires. Because of this, a confidence will be given us which can only come to those who have been enabled to renounce their own wisdom and plans, and be taken up with the purposes of God. This is a confidence which usually only comes in a life which is disciplined by the Spirit of grace and love, and it necessitates that we watch and pray.
But we shall only learn to pray in the Spirit by praying. This is an art which is taught to the obedient; it is not learnt by reading text-books on prayer, valuable as they may be, but by praying. Guarding our spirit lest it be hindered in its greatest ministry by overmuch talk, or work, or indulgence, let us give ourselves unto prayer, watching with diligence for any signs of flagging or failing.”

It really means more to me during this 40 days fast and prayer as we just returned from 14 day Holy Land tour. So 3 weeks ago Friday we were in the Tarhir square outside touring a museum. The people waved to us with great happiness and big smiles on their face as we passed in our bus. Our guide said their people are happy because of the revolution. But anxiety rising for what was to come of the new govt. and elections. I have a much more appreciation for Egypt and knowing there were 7,000 Christians praying for their country. My prayer is for God to create an overturn of 25mil people to come to know Him for his love and mercy and heal their nation. What a miracle that would be to spread through out the world!!!! Egypt we are praying for you, stay strong as you trust and ask for His intervention. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, not to harm you but prosper you !!!!!!!!

My fasting experience: Three 21 day fasts and two 40 day fasts (no food…only water).
The Bible says, “We are fearfully and wonderfully made.” When you are fasting, your worst days are your first two or three. You are breaking loose from your food source-the stomach. After that, you are living from your body, the fat cells, etc.
On a forty day fast, I lost about 30 to 35 pounds.
The Bible says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” You have extra time to spend reading the Word and communing with the Lord. The Lord is our strength and He never slumbers or sleeps.
I remember on my first 40 day fast, it was amazing how good I felt and the strength I had between days 20 and 30!
You must be careful how you break your fast. I usually would break mine at 12:00 midnight. I would sip some thin potato soup. I would keep sipping some until time for breakfast. Then I could eat a lightly cooked egg with some grits. I also learned to eat collard greens when coming off a fast. My body would be craving salt and the greens with pepper sauce helped supply that.
Don’t grab a candy bar at first, or you will regret it!
These fasts were wonderful experiences for me. I think everybody should try at least one 40 day fast. You will be glad you did.